Community Voice or Captive of the Right? A Closer Look at the Black Alliance for Educational Options

Lawrence Patrick, President and CEO

Lawrence C. Patrick III is the President and CEO of BAEO. The group’s website describes Patrick as “the visionary leader and co-founder of Megaschool, a high technology start-up that provides technology services to schools across the country.”63 Since taking over the position from Kaleem Caire in March 2002, Patrick has joined the ranks of voucher spokespeople.

Patrick described his mission quite simply in a Wall Street Journal article: “We're building our army. The main thing we focus on is organizing parents.”64

He also seems to have the same combative style as BAEO founder Howard Fuller. In response to a report on charter schools released by the American Federation of Teachers, which represents 1 million educators and other professionals, Patrick charged that: “An AFT study on charter schools has about as much credibility as a Philip Morris study on smoking.”65